Virginia

We we made it! over 3000 miles and 48hours in the car, we are on the east coast! We are a very nice place, in a nice part of town. We have gotten all unpacked and pretty organized for the small studio we are in. We have found the local stores to comfort us (target, trader joes, coldstone) and even found a few new ones ( a gelato store and a great sandwhich deli). We are still in search of some good mexican food, so far what we have tried is just sad compared to CA. We miss everyone SO much. Its really boring without all the family around.

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The rest of our trip was too long. Even though we were only driving about 6 hours a day, compared to the 9 hours a day we did the first part of our trip, it was 6 hours too many! we stopped for a night in Fayeteville, NC, which is the town from hell! Every street forms a semi circle and none of then connect! Its like a giant maze! We got lost about 3 times in the less then 24 hours we were in the town, totally about another hour in the car. All 3 of us were spent, it was not a proud moment in the Stoops family and we all agreed it was better to just put the whole experience behind us and not bring it up again. Luckily the trip from North Carolina to VA was only about 3 hours and Zerrell slept about 2 hours of that, A MIRACLE!

Atlanta, GA!

After the terrible day before we were ready to be out of the car and have some fun togther! Which we did!! We went to the "World of Coca Cola" Museum. We got in free because of Ted's military id (thanks you jesus). It was great! we got to see two short movies about coke, TONS of coke products, ads and other stuff from the the time coke was invented and from around the world. We met the Coca Cola polar bear (zerrell LOVED him), Tasted all of the different coke products from around the world and got to take home a FREE old school glass bottle of coke. It was ALOT of fun.
Next we went to the CNN studio. And by a grace of GOD Zerrell fell asleep in Teds arms and we got to go on a tour of the studio AND she stayed asleep the whole 1hour tour! It was great!! We had already deciced that taking her on a tour wasnt the best plan since she is SO active, so this was a very nice treat for ted and i. After that we went and hung out at Centenial Park, where the 1996 Olympics were held. It was a beautiful park. The weather was Perfect and the Day couldn't have gone any better

The Coca Cola Polar Bear

Zerrell picking out her own Coca Cola Bottle

Zerrell and I at the CNN building

The park

are we there yet?

when we left Memphis we drove through Mississippi and Alabama! We stopped ALOT because Zerrell ( and me) where not doing well. By that i mean we were both SICK of the car! We finally got into Atlanta, GA after dark and to make matters worse we got lost on the way to the hotel. Zerrell was screaming, I was crying, Ted was mad. It was pretty bad, so bad that at one point Ted turned to me and said "We need to pray right now" We finally found our hotel which was VERY nice, thank God, and we all got a Good Nights Rest!

TOO MUCH DRIVING!

Well after we left Oklahoma, we drove through Arkansas and into Tennesse where we stayed in Memphis. BY this point we were very tired of being in the car and we were all on edge! I gave Zerrell a sucker(for the first time) to see if that would help her last a little longer, it turned out she was more interested in the stickiness of the sucker then the actual sweet taste. She spent about 45 minutes licking it then seeing what it could stick too. We finally made it to Memphis. Once there, we decided to walk down to this famous area called Beale Street. It didnt look that far on our map, and after walking forever and through a really BAD part of town we finally got there. It was a fun street with lots of places to eat, bars and fun shops. We decided to take a taxi home that night, it was BEST $12 we ever spent since it turned out our hotell about about 3miles away

Zerrell with the sucker!

The Mississippi River

Zerrell helping Ted with our lugage!

Oklahoma!

We arrived in Oklahoma on Thursday April 3rd. We stayed with Teds cousin on their cattle farm and we had a a WONDERFUL time. Ted's cousin has a daughter that is just 4 months older then Zerrell and they got along great together. Ted's grandmas was there along with two of his aunts and uncles. Shari came up from Texas too. So it was Big ol' party for 3 days. Zerrell loved the farm, all the cows and just running around outside. It was such a blessing to be with everyone and just enjoy eachothers company.
Zerrell and Eva with their great-grandma

Zerrell with the Cows!

It was VERY windy there!

Shari's side of the family!

southwest

We made it to Flaggstaff, AZ on monday, march 31 and it was Freezing!! There was still alot of snow on the ground!! We stayed in a nice place and the next day we went to thr Grand Canyon. It was amazing, almost unable to grasp! Zerrell had a good time picking up rocks and seeing animals. The next day we moved on through New Mexico and into Texas. The car rides were ok although LONG

Raggedy Anne and Andy liked the Grand Canyon too

Snow at the Grand Canyon

Zerrell gave Ted a break and drove for a little

Lunch in New Mexico